Partisanship hinders Utah immigration solution

State Senator Luz Robles, along with many fine colleagues associated (and some not typically associated) with Sutherland Institute, developed the idea of an "accountability card" for undocumented immigrants living in Utah. SB 60, which is co-sponsored in the House of Representatives by conservative Republican Jeremy Peterson, meets the criteria to establish a workable solution.

But a funny thing happened on the way to a truly Utah solution: partisan, special-interest politics. This factor might single-handedly derail everything we can do in Utah to ensure our public safety, protect freedom and promote prosperity.

In one corner are "immigration activists" who insist immigration-related matters are concerns for the federal government only. They are the first to say that any Utah solution would be "unconstitutional" but ignore the reality that Utah is a sovereign state permitted to address any federal ineptitude affecting our public safety, freedom and economy.

In another corner are Utah businesses that rely on immigrants, documented or undocumented, to work for them. This is a reality of life and cannot be overlooked. But these business interests have a tendency to objectify undocumented immigrants as simply "workers," forgetting the human struggles and complexities they have with family, security and financial issues – just like every other human. And because they tend to see immigrants that way, they propose narrow ideas, such as "guest worker" programs, that lead to further objectification.

In still another corner are a few state legislators who, despite a good understanding of the problem and of a potential Utah solution – a solution that could be a model for the rest of the nation – feel compelled to focus on the shrill voices of the vocal constituents who show up at caucuses during election season. These legislators want to do the right thing but struggle because re-election is their priority.

Finally, in yet another corner are other legislators who oddly cannot give credit where credit is due because the credit would go to a Democrat. It is sad that someone with a "D" by her name, Senator Robles, is persona non grata simply because she's not in the majority party. As I mentioned, the proposal we've worked on together for nine months is a truly effective and comprehensive Utah solution. I have never understood this sort of political shunning. An idea is good or bad on its own merits.